Published 5:30 am, Thursday, August 28, 2003

The publication, in its 44th edition of covering Texas football, picks the Bears, who will kick off the 2003 season Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at home against Hempstead, to finish last in the six-team District 18-4A chase after posting a 1-9 mark (0-6 in district) last year.

"That wasn't exactly a big shocker," Fulbright said of the prediction. "I don't think anybody is going to pick us to finish anywhere other than last.

"We probably don't have that many lettermen coming back relative to some of these other schools. But part of it is we're a little bit smaller school than the others. We're just not going to have quite as many kids as they do year in and year out."

But Fulbright said his goals for the upcoming season are set much higher.

"I think we're going to finish somewhere other than last," he said. "That's all right. I like sneaking up on people."

Somewhat unfamiliar with the new district, Fulbright is certainly no stranger to pulling off the unexpected.

"My first year at Angleton, they picked us dead last and we finished second," he said. "Then after finishing second they picked us next-to-last and we won the thing. So I would just as soon sneak up on people. That's fine with me."

Campbell's had not too many better things to say about Hempstead. The Bocbats are still learning under second-year head coach Chris Cauley and are picked to finish no better than fifth in the six-team District 23-3A, ahead of only Stafford and behind playoff contenders Bellville, Navasota, Sealy and Columbus.

The visiting Bobcats look to rebound from a 0-5 District 23-3A season (2-8 overall) in 2002.

Fulbright was likewise unshaken at the magazine's choice for district champion. Rosenberg Terry not only is the magazine's choice to win district but also ranks the Rangers No. 10 in the state.

"I'd pick them up there," Fulbright said. "They've just got more speed and size and athletic ability than pretty much everybody else around. They're good. There's no doubt about it. They're a very good football team, well coached. They do a great job."

District 18-4A foe Brenham is tabbed second in league play but No. 9 in the state by the publication.

With 13 starters returning, Fulbright said he likes his team's chances against the rest of the league.

"I like what we've got coming back," he said. "I really do. We had a great spring. I felt like the kids learned an awful lot."

Working on the mindset of the team is now Fulbright's main task.

"I feel like we've got a lot of potential out there," he said. "I really do. I think our biggest key is to getting these guys believing they can win."

Fulbright said he sees no reason why the Bears can't pull off the same feat his Angleton team did a few years back.

"I feel very confident that we've got the talent to win some ballgames this fall, to win a lot of ballgames, contend for a playoff spot," he said. "I really think we will contend for a playoff spot. A lot of things are going to have to happen. We're going to have to stay healthy, obviously. And these kids have just got to learn how to win. That was the hardest thing at Angleton, convincing them that they did belong on the field with those other guys and that they can win."

Quarterback Adam Morris will direct the Bear offense Friday night. Two-time district 100-meter champion Chris Kindle (5 feet, 10 inches, 175 pounds), a returning running back, is listed by the magazine as a player to watch. Kindle rushed for 710 yards a year ago.

"He's legitimately fast and had a great spring," Fulbright said. "Every time we scrimmaged he would break one 50, 60, 70 yards for a touchdown. He's one of those kids that has an awful lot of talent. And he's a terrific kid.

"That's really something special over here. We've got some good, talented kids, but more than that they're just really great kids. They're a lot of fun to be with. The coaching staff, we come running to football practice. We really enjoy being out there with these guys."

"He's a big, strong kid," Fulbright said. "We're trying to figure out right now what's the best place for him. Last year he played fullback but we're going to run a one-back offense.

"And actually he'll play some of the tailback for us. He'll back up Chris a little bit at tailback. We're working on a little bit of a two-back package. But we're not going to use a whole lot of it. But when we do Kirt will probably be the fullback."

Manning also worked at linebacker and defensive end during the spring.

"I don't know exactly what the best place him is just yet," Fulbright said. "We haven't seen him quite enough.

"He got nicked up with a couple of weeks left in spring and didn't really play that much the last couple of weeks. So it was hard to really assess how far he was coming along at linebacker. So that remains to be seen. He could be a linebacker. He could be a defensive end."

Brandon Allen and Shan Sullivan, both baseball players, are also linebackers to note according to Campbell's magazine.

"They went deep into the playoffs (with the baseball team) then came out for spring ball and really showed us something," Fulbright said. "They're terrific kids. They're real talented kids. They're going to help us a bunch. And they may have to go a little bit both ways, too, at least part-time."

Drew Lane (6-0, 270) anchors the Bears offensive line and sophomore tight end Greg Smith (6-3, 185 is yet another on the to-watch list.

"Greg had a great spring," Fulbright said. "In the spring game, the first play of the game, he caught a 70-yard touchdown pass. He had a terrific spring and a good summer in 7-on-7. So we're looking for big things out of Greg."

Derrick Washington (5-7, 170) is a junior wide receiver listed among the standouts as well. Washington broke his ankle during baseball season and did not participate in spring workouts. However Washington's reputation precedes him.

"I've seen plenty of film on him from last year," Fulbright said.

With hard work and dedication Fulbright said he is confident the Bears will have a season to remember in 2003.

"All these kids are hard working, they have a great attitude and are just sponges right now," he said. " `Coach we want to win, just show us how.' That's just kind of how they are every day. It's really been a lot of fun."